Microsoft Upgrades Word for MS-DOS
Version 6.0 Brings New Ease-of-use Features to Current Users

REDMOND, Wash.--May 6, 1993--Microsoft Corporation today simultaneously
announced in Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United
States an upgrade to Microsoft Word for the MS-DOS operating system.
Microsoft Word version 6.0 for MS-DOS is designed to simplify common word
processing tasks and bring new functionality to the millions of Word for
MS-DOS users in the United States (and in Europe, where Word for MS-DOS is
the leading character-based word processor). The upgrade also aligns
Microsoft Word for MS-DOS more closely with other members of Microsoft's
word processing family, including Microsoft Word for Windows and Microsoft
Word for the Macintosh.

"We've seen a dramatic shift away from character-based MS-DOS word
processors as users move to the Windows and Macintosh operating systems,"
said Pete Higgins, senior vice president of desktop applications at
Microsoft. "As that shift continues, many of our customers need to support
a mix of users on all three platforms. We designed version 6.0 as a great
upgrade for current users of Word for MS-DOS who still need a
character-based word processor that requires minimum disk space and can
run well on an 80286 or a low-end 80386 microprocessor machine. We also
wanted to incorporate ease-of-use features similar to those in Word for
Windows and Word for the Macintosh to make it easier for customers to
operate in a cross-platform environment."

Drag and Drop editing, Tables, TrueType fonts and Automatic Bullets are
among the features that make Microsoft Word 6.0 for MS-DOS a valuable
upgrade for current users who want to make everyday word processing
easier.

"I especially like the new high-resolution Print Preview mode in Word 6.0
for MS-DOS," said David Huxford, president of Financial Computer Support,
Inc., a Maryland-based company with more than 800 financial and money
management planning offices across the country. "And the new menu
structure is more consistent with the other Microsoft programs we use,
including Word for Windows, Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint."

New Features

Users who upgrade to Microsoft Word 6.0 for MS-DOS can take advantage of
the following new features:

* New Table tool inserts a table in one easy step 
* Automatic Bullet feature instantly adds bullets or numbers 
  to selected text
* Drag and Drop editing, pioneered in Word for Windows and Word 
  for the Macintosh, now is implemented in Word 6.0 for MS-DOS
* TrueType fonts provide professional-quality output on printed
  documents
* New Ribbon gives one-click access to common formatting
  functions, such as changing fonts, indenting or unindenting,
  and making text bold, italic or underlined
* Grammatik grammar checker proofreads documents and catches
  grammatical errors 
* Print Preview mode can magnify images from 50 percent to 
  200 percent 
* New Print Merge Helper gives step-by-step guidance for 
  creating mail merges
* Special symbols and foreign language characters are
  conveniently available on a single palette
* Multilingual Spelling Checker checks multiple languages in 
  a single pass 
* Line and Border tools frame tables and text and add visual
  interest to documents 
* Integrated outlining with the Outlining Toolbar makes
  organizing long documents easier 
* New macros simplify creation of envelopes and mailing labels 
  in all the most popular sizes
* Word 5.0 Transition Help explains changes between Word for 
  MS-DOS versions 5.0 and 6.0
* Help for WordPerfect guides WordPerfect users moving to
  Microsoft Word
* Improved file conversion tools convert Word for Windows, Word
  for the Macintosh, WordPerfect, MultiMate, DisplayWrite and
  WordStar files

Awards

The two most recent predecessors of Word 6.0 for MS-DOS (Word 5.0 for
MS-DOS, released in November 1988, and Word 5.5 for MS-DOS, released in
November 1990) have been recognized with the following awards:

* PC World, Best Buy, 1991 (awarded to version 5.5)
* Stiftung Warentest (Germany), Best Word Processor (highest
  rating overall, awarded to version 5.5), December 9, 1991
* PC Professionell (Germany), Suggestion of the Magazine 
  (awarded to version 5.0), April 1991
* PC Magazine, Editor's Choice, 1990 (awarded to version 5.0)
* PC World, Best Buy, 1990 (awarded to version 5.0)
* PC Magazin (Germany), Best Word Processing Software, 1990
  (awarded to version 5.0)
* PC World, Best Buy, 1989 (awarded to version 5.0)

International Versions

Microsoft Word 6.0 for MS-DOS will be available in 10 languages worldwide,
including the following international versions: Australian English,
British English, French, French-Canadian, German, Italian, Portuguese and
Spanish.

System Requirements

Microsoft Word 6.0 for MS-DOS brings ease of use to character-based word
processing, but remains true to its MS-DOS heritage of modest memory and
hard disk requirements with a speedy editing interface. The following are
system requirements to run Microsoft Word 6.0 for

MS-DOS:

* MS-DOS version 3.0 or higher 
* 384K available memory (512K of memory recommended)

Hard disk space required:

* Minimum installation requires 1.5MB 
* Full installation requires 5.5MB

Pricing and Availability

Microsoft Word 6.0 for MS-DOS has a suggested retail price of $495.
Licensees of any version of Microsoft Word can upgrade for $99 through
September 30, 1993 ($129 upgrade thereafter). The new version will also
include a "dual license" for Word 6.0 for MS-DOS and the next version of
Word for Windows, due out later this year. The dual license will allow
users who upgrade to Word 6.0 for MS-DOS to later move to Word 6.0 for
Windows without having to purchase an additional license. Microsoft Word
6.0 for MS-DOS is also part of the Microsoft Select Program and the
Microsoft Select Maintenance Program. License Paks will be available for
the product in single, 20 and 100 unit quantities. The academic version is
available for $99. Microsoft Word 6.0 for MS-DOS is expected to be
available at the end of May 1993.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Prices listed are U.S. suggested retail prices. Reseller prices may vary.

Microsoft Corp, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399
206-882-8080,  fax: 206-93MSFAX

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